Priceline Hotel: 4* Chicago (Millenium Park-Loop-Grant Park) Palmer House

[ecnirp]

Hi

I will be staying in Chicago on the dates 8/31/09 - 9/9/09.

I would like 1 room in the Chicago Loop/Magnificent Mile area.

I would like to know the best priceline strategy for getting a nice hotel for less than $85 a night, ideally 4* but am willing to go to a 3/3.5*.

Thanks in advance.

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site. :)

Rates are generally on the reasonable side for these dates and you have time, so I'd start lower and work up little-by-little.

Would you prefer the Loop or River North/North Michigan Ave. area or would you not mind either?

Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links when you are ready to book.

[ecnirp]

Thanks for your reply. :)

I've never been to Chicago before so I'm not too familiar with either area. They are just the ones that are closest to the centre of Chicago so I don't mind either really.

Is one area more likely to fit my criteria more than the other?

Thanks.

[AaronJB]

The Loop area is closer to museums, but it can get quiet/very quiet later at night - once the offices let out for the day, quite a few restaurants/stores in this area close. The Michigan Ave. area has more in the way of restaurants/nightlife and shopping. Both areas are not huge - one can walk from one end of the North Michigan Ave. to the opposite end of the Loop in 40-45 minutes. If you are staying out late, the Michigan Ave. area is what I'd recommend.

I would start bidding at $65 for a 4* in either area. If that is not accepted, next try at $70, then $75, then $80 and then $85. However, I don't think you'll have to go to $85 and I would be kind of surprised if it even required $80.

Please use the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchase.

[ecnirp]

Cheers for the info. I think I'll try stay in the Michigan Ave. area after what you said.

I'll also try the strategy you recommended and see what happens.

On another note I noticed a discount code you posted for Orbitz that takes of 15%, I used it to see what kind of deal I could get and the best I could find with it was for the Allerton Hotel for a grand total of $813.24 for the full stay, about $90 a night including taxes.

Is this a good deal or not? The hotel looks nice on the website. Just want to know as a back up really just in case the priceline plan doesn't work out.

Thanks. :)

[AaronJB]

The Allerton is an older property, recently renovated and on Michigan Ave. $90 (and 15% off if the coupon works for that) is a very good price, but reviews are still rather mixed, even after the renovation.

Personally, I'd recommend trying PRICELINE first, as I think you could get a nicer hotel for less. HOTWIRE also has some better possibilities at the $85-90 level, as well. If nothing else works out, then the Allerton may be something to consider (although make sure to check the cancel policy on the Orbitz page for that hotel), but again, I think you'll definitely be successful with PRICELINE.

Also, as another thought, given that you're going to be in Chicago for more than a week, a change of hotel/area may be something to consider. It would require a move, but also be a change of scenery. I'd be happy to suggest ideas for that, as well, if you are interested.

Thanks for using the site's PRICELINE, HOTWIRE or Orbitz.com links.

[ecnirp]

Thanks AaronJB for all your help.

You were right about PRICELINE coming up with the goods.

Just managed to bag ourselves 9 nights at The Palmer House Hilton for $73.65 including tax.

We are really happy with it and it seems to get good reviews on tripadvisor.

Another big thanks for all your help.

I also used the PRICELINE link for the deal. :)

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success and thank you for posting your win! :)

The Palmer House is a classic hotel - one of the country's oldest "grand" hotels. The lobby is famous, and quite gorgeous. You can read a little more about the history and see the lobby here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmer_House

Just to confirm, was $65 the price before tax?

The hotel is within very easy distance of a few different CTA "L"/subway stations (quite easy to get from a nearby CTA station to the hotel if you are coming in from either airport), and the Art Institute/Millennium Park are a couple of blocks to the East. State St shopping (which includes the former Marshall Fields - now Macys - is a block to the West.) I actually like the State St. shopping area a little more, as there are more bargain-oriented stores there than on Michigan Ave.

Recommended dining nearby: http://www.theberghoff.com/. For an excellent, quick bite to eat, there's also a Corner Bakery location essentially on the NE corner of the hotel building (corner of Monroe/Wabash).

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Using the site's PRICELINE link is also greatly appreciated.

Enjoy your stay. :)

[ecnirp]

Decided to go a little lower than the $65 mark and work my way up to it, just to see if I could get a real bargain. So in the end managed to get the hotel for $62.50.

Yet another thank you for all the follow up info and links.

Its greatly appreciated due it being my first time there so all the little tips are great.

[thereuare]

So in the end managed to get the hotel for $62.50.

Thanks for the follow-up... as PRICELINE only allows you to bid in whole dollar increments, can you please confirm the bid amount that you placed (per nite before taxes and fees) when you won this property.

THANKS!

[ecnirp]

I just used on an online currency converter to change it into dollars which gave the odd looking $62.50.

Hope that helps.